Attachment for window-shade rollers



' Oct. 30/1923.

T. X. JONES ATTACHMENT FOR WINDOW SHADE ROLLERS Filed May 26 V the use of springs, weights or in expensive,

Patented Get. 3%), 1923.

nits 'r'rss THOIVIAS X. JONEfi oF IEINNEAPOLIS, IVIINNESOTA.

ATTACHMENT FOR WINDOW-SHADE ROLLERS.

Application filed May 26, 1922. Serial No. 563,823.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS X. Jonns, citizen of the United States, resident of Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for VVindow-Shade Rollers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my lnvention is to provide an attachment for a window shade roller, whic-hwill permit the operator of the shade to easily and quickly raise or lower it for adjustment in any desired position without similar devices usually employed for winding up a shade roller.

A further object is to provide an attachment which will'be extremely simple and will not add materially to the cost of the installation of the roller and being actuated through the force of gravity will always be dependable in performing its functions.

A further object is to provide a controlling device which is adapted for use with various other mechanisms such as hoisting apparatus.

Other objects pear from-the tions.

The invention consists generally in vari ous constructions and combinations all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a front view of the upper portion of a window showing a shade roller and shade mounted thereon and embodying my improved attachment or connection;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-42 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

In the drawings 2 represents a window frame 3, a shade roller having bearings 4 and 5 in the frame as usual in shade roller mountings. 6 is the shade proper wound on the roller in the usual way and having a shade stick or weight 7 at one end. Usually shade rollers are provided with spring devices put under tension when the shade is unwound to revolve the roller and wind up the shade when it is raised. These spring devices wear out frequently, get out of order and for various reasons are objectionable.

of the invention will apfollowing detailed descrip- To eliminate this difliculty I provide a cord 8 wrapped on a suitable drum or sheave 9 at one end of the shade roller and passing over a pulley 10 supported by a pin 11 that is mounted on a plate 12 at one end of the shade roller, the pulley being preferably supported close to the periphery of the roll er, with just suflicient space between them to allow free revolution without interference. The face of the pulley has an annular groove 13 therein to receive thecord 8, the pulley being arranged above the lower portion of the shade roller, as indicated in it leaves the periphery of the drum or sheave on the roller passes outwardly and for wardly over the pulley. A dog 14 is pivoted at 15 on the upper portion of the plate 12 preferably by means of a stud 16 and the lowerportion'of this dog is U-shaped substantially having a recess 17 to receive the pulleylO, the upper edge of said recess ha ving a surface 18 which rides on the cord 8 and presses it against the surface of the pulley and the bottom of the annular roove therein, and clamps it there, the free end of the cord passing on around the pulley and down through a guide 19 in the lower end 20 of the dog. This guide is so posi tioned that the cord as it leaves the pulley is carried inwardly toward the shade as indicated in Figure 2. Therefore, when an outward pull is exerted on the free end of the cord'the pressure will be transmitted to the end of the dog and it will be swung to the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2 and moved out of contact with the cord to raise it and allow freedom of movement of the cord on the pulley to wind or unwind the shade. This dog is weighted in its lower position so that when it is pulled outwardly to the dotted line position of Figure 2, it will drop back by gravity to the full line lockin position as soon as the cord is released. K very slight upward pull on the cord will serve to disengage the dog from the pulley and then if the user allows the cord to hang slack the weight of the shade stick will unwind the shade from the roller.

On the other hand if the user desires to wind up the shade it will only be necessary to exert a slight pull on the cord in the meantime holding the dog in its disengaged or dotted line position. At any point in the movement of the shade, if the operator Figure 2, so that the cord as releases the cord the dog will immediately drop back by gravity to its locking position, firmly grip the cord .in the annular face of the pulley, holding it securely and the shade in any position to which it may have been adjusted. In this way I am able to easily and quickly control the movement of the shade by a device that is positive and eliable in its movement and not in any way dependent upon springs or ratchets. This same device may be .asily adapted for use in locking the cables of hoisting sheaves or pulleys as well as with a shade roller and hence I do not wish to confine myself to the particular application of the invention as herein shown and described.

I claim as my invention. V

l. The combination, with a shade roller, and a shade mounted thereon, and a cord wound on said roller at one end, of a pulley mounted adjacent said roller and having grooved face to receive said cord, a dog pivoted at one end above said roller and having a U-shaped lower portion provided on one side with a surface between which and said pulley the cord is clamped, the loose end of the cord leaving said pulley being carried inwardly toward the shade roller and said dog having an opening in its lower portion through which said cord endloosely passes outwardly, pull on said loose cord end oscillating engaging it from its locking position on said cor 2. The combination with a shade roller and a shade mounted thereon and :a cord wound on said roller at one end, of a pulley mounted adjacent said roller and having a face over which said cord is extended, a pivoted dog having a recess to receive said pulley sa d dog normally contacting by gravity with said cord to press it upon said pulley, backward movement of said cord operating to Wedge it more firmly between said dog and dis- 7 lease of said loose end allowing said dog to return by gravity to its locking position and checking the unwinding of said curtain.

3. The combination with a pulley and its support, and a cord or cable passing over said pulley, of a dog pivoted at one end above said pulley and having a surt'acetor engaging the cord and clamping it against the face of the pulley, said dog normally swinging by gravity to its clamping position the lower end of said doghaving a part for engagement with said cord, outward pull on said cord operating to disengage the clamping surface of said dog from said cord, and backward movement ofsaid cord on said pulley operating to draw said dog to its locking position thereon. 4. The combination with a pulley, and a cord or cable passing thereover, one end of said cord having means for connection with the work, the other end depending loosely on the other side of the pulley, of a pivoted dog depending vertically by gravity adjacent said pulle f and having a surface to normally bear lightly on the cord for pressing it against the pulley, backward movement of the cord on the pulley drawing said dog inwardly and clamping thecord to arrest further movement thereof, the lower end of said dog having means for engagement with the loose end of the cord, downward and inward movement of said loose end drawing said dog to its clamping position, and outward movement of said cord swinging said dog to its release position and allowing free movement of the cord on the pulley. w

In witness whereol I have hereunto set my hand this 22d day of May 1922.

THOMAS JONES. 

